McLaren believes Lando Norris‘ more tempered reaction to his win in Formula 1‘s Singapore Grand Prix stems from his focus on “the bigger mission” of the 2024 title.
Norris capitalised on McLaren‘s advantage at the Marina Bay Circuit to crush the opposition as he turned pole position into a 20-second margin over Max Verstappen.
The Briton’s third career triumph has reignited his championship charge as he is now 52 points behind Verstappen in the Drivers’ standings with six rounds remaining.
Norris, though, cut a more subdued individual last weekend compared to the celebrations that emanated when he seized his maiden F1 win in Miami earlier this term.
Speaking prior to the weekend’s action starting, Norris expressed that his toned-down response to victories was down to acknowledging the title is attainable in 2024.
“The easiest thing is to look at how much I celebrated Miami versus how much I celebrated in Zandvoort,” Norris told media including Motorsport Week.
“I didn’t really celebrate at all in Zandvoort, it was just a little fist bump and a couple of smiles, but that was it.
“If I was completely out of the championship, I probably would’ve celebrated more.
“But considering I know it kind of means something towards a bigger prospect, it just felt like a smaller thing on that day and the meaning of it.”
McLaren and Norris ‘on a mission’ in F1 2024
McLaren boss Andrea Stella has concurred with his driver’s view, citing that the entire team has adopted the mindset that taking both championships is now possible.
Asked whether he had observed a more serious Norris since the season resumed last month, Stella told media including Motorsport Week post-race in Singapore: “Look, in terms of celebration, in fairness what I see is what I listen in the radio, in the in-lap, then what I see when they jump out of the car.
“But I’m busy, I’m doing media, I cannot necessarily see all the celebration. Let’s say that in terms of celebration, not necessarily we have the most extrovert drivers.
“This doesn’t mean they are not as happy as others, it’s a style.
“It’s a style that we like and I think it’s like we are focused on to next, on to next. Because we have a bigger mission in our head.
“So that’s something that’s changed? I don’t think it has changed, obviously the first victory in Miami, Lando seemed pretty happy and he jumped on to the mechanics.
“But for me the focus I see in the team now is that the team looks like we are on a mission, if that makes sense.
“And it almost looks like each of these stages, it’s just a stage. Even though when you win you have to celebrate because it doesn’t happen all the time.”
Norris’ win and team-mate Oscar Piastri‘s third place has seen McLaren go into the autumn break with a 42-point gap over Red Bull in the Constructors’ Championship.
